Car-coupling



(No Model.) l Sheets-sheen 2.,V

T.v HARDING.

` GAR GGUPLING. v No. 274.7764. Patented Mar. 2'?, 1883.

Wlfnesses. nvenjor 35W @Wk N PETERS. Phottrlihugmphar. Washington, DA C.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

4THOMAS HARDING, OF LAFAYETTE, INDIANA.

CARfco'uPLlNo.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No5 274,764, dated March27, 1883. l Application filed January 23, 1883,` (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, THOMAS HARDING,ofLafayette, in the county ofTippecanoe and State of Indiana, haveinvented new and useful Improvementsin Gar-Couplings; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full and accurate description of thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure1 is a longitudinal section of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a plan of thesame. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the end of a car with my coupling.Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the same.

A is the draw-head orbuffer.

B is the link, secured in said head by the pin I). i

At the front of the buer there is a pivoted latch, C, the front end ofwhich may be beveled at such an angle as will enable an incoming link toforce it upward until said link has passed, when it will fall in placeagain, the nose of the latchuhaving passed through the link.

Behind the linkB and pin D there is a springbuffer, E, provided with astrong spring, F, seated in box G, through which the bui'erpin passesfreely. The buffer E is provided with a face inclining forward andsomewhat concave, so that as it presses forward n pon the end ofthe linkthe latter is not only clamped against the pin D, but by the inclinedface of the buffer the link isforced and held down upon the iioor of thedraw-head, and is thus maintained in a position adapted to cause it toenter the opposite draw-head with certainty when two cars are broughttogether. The front end of each link is angular or pointed, so that twoentering links will not squarely encounter each other, but one or theother will rise up and ride upon the other as they enter the oppositedraw-heads.

The latch C is pivoted by a bolt, I), which passes through the ribs I I,made on the top of the draw-head A for that purpose. The hole in the endof thelatch G is made oblong, and the slot in the draw-bar, at the frontend of the latch, is made slightly beveling, so that when the strain ison the latch C itis drawn for-l ward against the incline and preventsthe latch from working upward, but when the link presses against it ispressed backward, and is back from the front end of the slot and free torise up to let the link pass in. the couplings of several cars may bemade automatic and relieved from the danger which usually attends thecouplings of cars. The attendant having placed the link in the properposition to enable it to enter the opposite drawhead, when the cars arebrought together, the coupling will be automatically effected.

Each draw-head being provided with alink held by a pin independent ofthe latch, whereby the link of the opposite draw-head is engaged, thecoupling is effected by two links independently secured. If one of thelatches fails to move when engaged by the incoming link, or if anyforeign body is present inthe draw-head, so that the opposite linkcannot enter, then the buder of said opposite link will yield and nodamage will ensue.

When forauy reason the coupling cannot be effected automatically, thehook U may be raised by means ofthe winch K upon ashaft, L, the ends ofwhich rest in boxes secured to the front of the car, and arc providedwith crank-handles M, by which said` Winch may be partly rotated and thehook raised. When it is desired to hold the hook up out lof action, theshaft L may be lpushed endwisein its boxes until one of thecrank-handles passes under a stationary hook or catch, N,whcreby'it willbe retained.

It is sometimes necessary or more convenient to lift the hook from thetop of the car. This may be the case in uncoupling, and'for this purposeI carry a chain, P, from the hook C to the topA of the car, and I alsoprovide a hook, Q, whereby said chain may be secured to hold the linkup.

Having described my invention, what I claim i l. The draw-head A,provided with the link B and pin D, whereby said link is held, combinedwith the independent automatic latch C, whereby the link of thejoppositedraw-head is engaged.

2. The combination, in a draw-head, A, of independent latch C, a link,B, and pin D to hold the same, and an elastic buffer, E, with an inclineconcave face, as set forth.

3. The crank-winders K, capable of moving By these means IOC ' endwise,as shown-in Fig. 4, whereby the latch fitted loosely within saiddraw-bead box or may be lifted by turning the handles up, and frame,substantially as and for the purpose to alatch, combined with thestationary catch N set forth. to hold it up, in the manner set forth.

5 4. The combination, in a draw-head, of a box or frame, A, aJ link, B,and holding-pin D Witnesses: for the same, an independent hinged latch,C, AUSTIN L. KUMLER, with a buffer, E, spring F, and spring-case G, NOAHJUSTICE.

THOMAS HARDING.

